Abstract: A fuel assembly includes a cluster of mutually parallel fuel rods. A fuel assembly channel laterally surrounds the cluster of fuel rods and has a substantially rectangular cross section and flat channel walls. Grid-like spacers having meshes formed therein each receive a respective one of the fuel rods for guiding the fuel rods in a plurality of axial positions. At least one support spring laterally supports each respective one of the fuel rods in the mesh guiding the fuel rod. Each of the spacers have inner ribs being aligned parallel to the fuel rods and outer peripheral ribs opposite the channel walls. At least some of the inner ribs are fastened to the peripheral ribs, and the outer peripheral ribs are joined together only by the inner ribs.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel assembly for accommodating mutually parallel rods disposed side by side therein includes a spacer formed of two mutually parallel grid sections, each of the grid sections including outer straps flatly facing the rods, each of the grid sections including main sleeves being positioned like positions of the same color in rows and columns disposed at right angles on a chess board leaving a free intermediate position between each two occupied positions, the main sleeves dividing the grid sections into grid mesh openings at the positions each able to receive a respective rod therein, each main sleeve in one of the grid sections being aligned with a main sleeve in the other grid section forming pairs of main sleeves, connecting straps each interconnecting the main sleeves of a pair of main sleeves forming contact springs for rods, each of the connecting straps having a width being smaller than the circumference of one of the main sleeves, and spacer sleeves each being disposed between and rest